84-265 Political Science Research Methods
9 units, Carnegie Mellon University
This course provides an introduction to the theory and method of contemporary political analysis. It prepares students to read, interpret, critique, design, and conduct original, empirical research in political science. Tracing the research process, students will learn how to formulate research questions, theoretical models, and empirical hypotheses and then how to design a rigorous, detailed plan for collecting or creating data with which to test such hypotheses. The course introduces common research strategies for descriptive and causal inference, which students will use to design an original research project in a group setting. In the spring 2023 group project, students will work as a group to answer a research question built around a common theme threats to democracy. As a group, students will collect and analyze their own dataeither qualitative or quantitativeto answer the research question, workshop the different stages of their project in class, and present findings to classmates.
Prerequisites: 36-200 or 36-201 or 36-220 or 70-207 or 36-247 or 36-207
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